Amir Imanzadeh1, Sarvenaz Pourjabbar2, Jonathan Mezrich3. 1. Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, Yale-New Haven Hospital, Yale School of Medicine, 333 Cedar Street, TE2, New Haven, CT 06520, United States of America. Electronic address: Amir.Imanzadeh@yale.edu. 2. Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, Yale-New Haven Hospital, Yale School of Medicine, 333 Cedar Street, TE2, New Haven, CT 06520, United States of America. Electronic address: sarvenaz.pourjabbar@yale.edu. 3. Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, Yale-New Haven Hospital, Yale School of Medicine, 333 Cedar Street, TE2, New Haven, CT 06520, United States of America. Electronic address: Jonathan.mezrich@yale.edu.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Radiologists comprise approximately 3.6% of US physicians while ranked 6th-8th in medicolegal claims. Studies suggest that by the age of 60, about half of all radiologists will be sued at least once. Given this likelihood, it is surprising how little attention is paid to teaching of medicolegal issues. It is hypothesized that most trainees emerge from residency with only a vague notion of the medicolegal issues inherent in radiology. METHODS: All of the radiology attendings, trainees and alumni in our tertiary care teaching hospital were surveyed via an electronic questionnaire. Respondents were surveyed on overall knowledge of job-related medicolegal issues and willingness to receive additional education. The survey also included two real life medicolegal scenarios and the radiologists were asked to choose the most likely outcome. RESULTS: A questionnaire was sent to total of 359 trainees, attendings and alumni. There were 168 responses, constituting a 46.7% response rate, F:M 48:112. Only 41% of the respondents were aware that by the age of 60, half of them would be involved in at least one lawsuit. All knew the most common causes of malpractice claims; however, one-fourth were not aware of available medicolegal resources offered by radiological organizations; 85% of the respondents expressed willingness to attend medicolegal CME courses. All residents surveyed believed that medicolegal lectures should be included in their didactics. CONCLUSION: There is a dearth of knowledge among radiologists on job-related medicolegal topics. This survey suggests that incorporating additional medicolegal topics into the non-interpretive skills curriculum of residents and medicolegal CME for graduates would be well received.
OBJECTIVE: Radiologists comprise approximately 3.6% of US physicians while ranked 6th-8th in medicolegal claims. Studies suggest that by the age of 60, about half of all radiologists will be sued at least once. Given this likelihood, it is surprising how little attention is paid to teaching of medicolegal issues. It is hypothesized that most trainees emerge from residency with only a vague notion of the medicolegal issues inherent in radiology. METHODS: All of the radiology attendings, trainees and alumni in our tertiary care teaching hospital were surveyed via an electronic questionnaire. Respondents were surveyed on overall knowledge of job-related medicolegal issues and willingness to receive additional education. The survey also included two real life medicolegal scenarios and the radiologists were asked to choose the most likely outcome. RESULTS: A questionnaire was sent to total of 359 trainees, attendings and alumni. There were 168 responses, constituting a 46.7% response rate, F:M 48:112. Only 41% of the respondents were aware that by the age of 60, half of them would be involved in at least one lawsuit. All knew the most common causes of malpractice claims; however, one-fourth were not aware of available medicolegal resources offered by radiological organizations; 85% of the respondents expressed willingness to attend medicolegal CME courses. All residents surveyed believed that medicolegal lectures should be included in their didactics. CONCLUSION: There is a dearth of knowledge among radiologists on job-related medicolegal topics. This survey suggests that incorporating additional medicolegal topics into the non-interpretive skills curriculum of residents and medicolegal CME for graduates would be well received.
Authors: Robert G Alexander; Fahd Yazdanie; Stephen Waite; Zeshan A Chaudhry; Srinivas Kolla; Stephen L Macknik; Susana Martinez-Conde Journal: Front Neurosci Date: 2021-06-11 Impact factor: 5.152